REU Site for Research in the Biological Sciences

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Undergraduate students will take part in a three year summer research siteprogram in the Department of Biological Sciences at Wellesley College, anundergraduate college for women, which has a strong interest in theresearch training of undergraduates. Applications will be activelyencouraged from Wellesley College Biology, Psychobiology, BiologicalChemistry and Environmental Sciences majors, students from regionalliberal arts colleges and universities, as well as similar institutionsnation-wide. These students will have a serious interest in gainingresearch experience to add to their demonstrated academic talent. Theywill already have shown an ability to think independently andimaginatively, and will have strong recommendations from knowledgeablefaculty at their own institutions. Ten participants for each of the threeyears will be selected by the PI and the participating faculty. Theselected students will take part in a lively, instructive, ten weekprogram. Under the guidance of their faculty mentor, each student willparticipate fully in an active research program. This will includeeverything from pursuing a literature review, to carrying out independentexperimental procedures and observations, and continuing to the analysisof data and the determination of conclusions. Each will also prepare anddeliver a presentation of results to the entire program in a weeklyseminar series. This, along with a series of demonstrations of thetechniques utilized by other laboratories, and a final poster session,will familiarize each student with the wide variety of active researchprograms in the Department. Throughout the summer seminars and workshopswill be presented by scientists, and field trips will be taken to fieldresearch sites and biotechnology companies. It is expected, based onprevious experience, that participation in this program will have asignificant impact on the future of these undergraduates, as most willpursue advanced degrees.